Glass Cutters with a Brief History of Flat Glass

Author: Charles Norton Williams

ISBN 978-1-62137-052-9 (hardcover)

280 pages

This one-of-a-kind book describes some 1400 different glass cutters collected from around the world by the author during the past 35 years. A brief history of flat window glass describes its manufacture, application, taxation, etc. from the time of the Romans, through France and England to the United States.

The early use of flint tools and grozing yrnes for cutting and shaping the glass is noted. These tools were used for shaping the stained glass in the early cathedrals.

Five hundred U.S. glass cutter patents and 28 U.S. glass cutter design patents beginning in 1860 through 2009 are listed by date, inventor, and title. A list of corporate, product line, distributor, etc. names are also described further as being in one or more of the 23 “Style Categories” the author has set up that show pictures of 600 cutters and detailed descriptions of all 1400 different glass cutters. An extensive bibliography is included.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author, now retired, was born and raised in central New York and attended colleges in Alma, MI; Alfred, NY; and Ubraa, IL. He received his BS in Liberal Arts and Ceramic Engineering and a MS in Ceramic Engineering. The US Army veteran has worked as a ceramic engineer for the National Bureau of Standards, Boeing, Dow Chemical, and Howmet. For 17 years he was owner and operator of the Topical Review Book Co, which was formerly in Auburn, NY. He is a past president of the Skaneateles NY Rotary Club, a charter member of the Skaneateles Antiques Club and served as chair of the Skaneateles Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission for 25 years. He served six years on the board of directors on both Westminster Manor, Auburn, NY, a home for the well elderly, and the Skaneateles Laker Transportation Project, a volunteer transport system for senior citizens. He is a member of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, CRAFTS of New Jersey, and Early American Industries Association, Inc. In 2002 he co-authored two history books with his son Paul through Arcadia Publishing titled “Owasco Lake” and “Skaneateles Lake.”